The Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), attended the annual event “The Twin College Envoys Program (TWINCLE) ASEAN Consortium Symposium Program Meeting” held in Chiba University, Japan, on 16 to 20 March 2017. The project aims to gather all members of the consortium, which amount to at least 15 universities in six participating countries in order to develop activities which pairs up graduate students skilled in educational research with those striving for cutting edge practical scientific research, and trains highly skilled individuals. The TWINCLE is a program for teachers who have global ability and vision and researchers who have a global mind under a consortium chaired by the Chiba University. The event was held for 4 days, which started with the opening of the meeting three university groups, a presentation of program in the future, presentations of TWINCLE students-participants and ended with the research awards for the outstanding students.
Until now TWINCLE Program has entered the final year of Phase 1, which had been due to resume TWINCLE upcoming Phase 2 in 2018-2022. It is consequential to the reduction of the number of exchange students from Japan to Indonesia and vice versa. However, the potential use of other sources of funding is possible, such as the use of Sakura Program, which is integrated in Twincle Program in the future.
On this occasion, the Faculty of Geography was represented by Dr. Dyah Rahmawati Hizbaron, as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service and Alumni Cooperation, accompanied by Dr. Rini Rachmawati as the Secretary of the Department of Development Geography, and Dr. Prima Widayani, representing the Department of Science and Geographic Information. In addition, two representatives of High Schools, SMA Negeri 3 Yogyakarta and SMA Negeri 6 Yogyakarta (Mrs. Dwi Rini Wulandari and Mr. Miftakodin) also participated in this activity.
Some outputs obtained during these activities include: development of dual degree of master program on Regional Development with the different universities under Twincle consortium; students exchange (degree) program between Chiba University and the Faculty of Geography under the Graduate School for Integrative Science and Technology, and the Centre for Environmental Remote Sensing; exchange students (non-degree) program with Chiba University and Chiba Prefectural School for the Blind, and multilateral cooperation for researcher exchanges in various international events held in FGE UGM, such as Eco DRR Summer course, RPPG 8th, ICERM, and ICST Symposia Geomaritime.
(WD3/BKLN)